From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.
It was the summer of my life.
I’d met the guy of my dreams.
Unfortunately, he was the son of my uppity employer¿and very much off-limits.
But Gavin was a rebel. He knew his mother would disown him if she found out about us; in his eyes, we just had to be careful.
He never treated me as his mother did-like hired … did-like hired help.
Instead, Gavin put me on a pedestal and loved me harder than I’d ever been loved in my life.
What a summer it was.
Until it all ended-badly.
I was never supposed to see Gavin again.
That didn’t stop me from thinking about him every day for ten years.
I knew little about his life now, just that he was an entrepreneur living an ocean away.
When a twist of fate had me working again in the very place our love affair started a decade earlier, I knew it was only a matter of time before I might see him again.
But I wasn’t prepared.
What if he hated me?
What if he loved someone else now?
I wasn’t prepared for all the unknowns.
And most of all, I wasn¿t prepared for today to be the day he came back.
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Penelope Ward is an automatic one click author for me. Sebastian York and Andi Arndt are a duo thag is also an automatic one click for me. Obviously I needed to have The Day He Came Back added to my collection but that is all irrelevant. If you have never experienced Sebastian and Andi or read a Penelope Ward book, I would beg/encourage/rant about the need for THIS book in your collection.
The Day He Came Back has a familiar theme. The rich boy and the peasant girl. It’s predictable route doesn’t detract from the story at all though. These characters, Raven and Gavin, are a breath of fresh air. Their story while not a new one is a fairytale worth experiencing. It’s not a happy sappy plot. It’s rich in real life and traumatic truths. Life doesn’t always give us an HEA but fortunately, Penelope Ward does. (Even if it’s years later!)
Enjoy the adventure. Explore the emotions. Smile in the absolute joy of finding and keeping the one who got away.
I actually listed to the audio version of this book and loved it. I usually hate audio books so I knew that if I had read it, the story would easily get five stars, if not more.
It was the summer of my life. Id met the guy of my dreams. Unfortunately, he was the son of my uppity employer and very much off-limits. Wow absolutely loved this I know it was a predictable simple second chance romance story line but the chemistry between the characters was so sweet and beautiful and made the story such a wonderful read. You could feel their emotions and torment pouring through the pages. This was all over a beautiful story and a must read.
Not on par with some of her other books
Ah, the rich manipulative mother strikes again! Honestly, Raven and Gavin are great characters and have an instant connection that lasts years beyond their time together. It takes only a single visit to re-ignite the feelings that have not been quite dormant and the rest is history. This is a great second chance romance with a lot of family drama to mix things up.
I listened to the audio version of this book. This was my first book by this author and I loved it! It certainly had all the feels. It is a second chance trope that’s actually pretty complicated by the lives the characters lead. The book just seemed to have a little extra to it that pushed it over the top for me. The characterization of ALL the players in the story was superb. You have the classic poor working girl and the ultra rich guy, but Gavin was a wonderful person who just had lots of things to work through.
Andi Arndt and Sebastian York are my favorite paired narrators and they did a great job with this book (as always). If you’ve never listened to them, this would be a great book to start with!
I listened to this book on audible.
I just wanted to cuddle Gavin and hold him lol
This was a great second chance romance story.
I rolled my eyes when the 20 year old Raven used the word shaft because no one uses that word and yes I know this is a romance book but let’s be real.
The end was pretty quick. So much had happened I felt they deserved more time of how to come back together.
This will pull your heart strings!
The Day He Came Back by Penelope Ward was nothing short of awesome!
This whirlwind romance will captivate you in every way.
One summer was all it took for Raven to fall in love and break her own heart beyond repair.
When she started working for the Masterson’s, there was no knowing that she’d fall for the rebel son Gavin.
While trying to hide from Mrs M. and her narcissistic self, they find themselves having the best summer of their lives; until she finds out.
Can Raven and Gavin have a happily ever after and forget about the mad women who’s trying to tear them apart, or will Raven succumb to the ‘evil witch’?
I couldn’t help being drawn to this novel. Every page had me more engrossed than the last.
I fell head over heals, over the moon, in love with Raven and Gavin’s story; their dynamic was overwhelming to say the least.
A well deserved 5 stars and a highly recommended read.
What a wonderful story of first love, sacrifices and second chances. Gavin was an all around great-guy. He never allowed his wealth and social status to dictate his morals. He was such an honest man and that remained with him throughout his life. Raven was a beautiful person inside and out who put the well being of those she loved before herself.
Everything about this book was heartwarming (Gavin’s relationship with Marni; Raven’s “date” with Weldon; Raven sticking around pretending to be her mother taking care of Gavin’s dad; the beauty for mother/daughter relationship between Raven and Renata). I can go on and on.
I love this author and this book!
This second chance romance has it all – young love, parental disapproval, rich boy/poor girl, tragic separation and a heartwarming reunion. A great, feel good read that I highly recommend!
First off, I just love when a book starts off with a prologue that completely sucks you in and has you captivated from the start. The Day He Came Back totally hooked me from the start – wanting to quickly read to get to the point in the story that the prologue dangled in front of us.
Gavin and Raven meet the summer before Gavin was to start law school. He was the elder son of the rich family Raven’s mother worked for and Raven herself was also the hired help in the house that summer. This didn’t stop their attraction yet they were tempting fate when it comes to the rich boy falling in love with the girl from the opposite side of the bridge.
This star-crossed lovers story progresses as you’d expect, so you can anticipate what’s going to happen next but that didn’t take away from this sweet story for me. Sometimes I prefer a predictable story versus one filled with over the top angst for extra drama’s sake.
Gavin was almost too good to be true. The smart, sexy, down to earth guy fell and fell hard for Raven. He could read people really well, especially those in his family which is why his reaction to their ultimate separation seemed out of character to me. He just gave up without a fight which didn’t fit his personality so that was my only hang up with him.
Raven was a strong heroine – not overly perfect but real in her actions, feelings, and ultimate choices. She lost some of her initial feistiness but that was understandable given the loss she experienced in her life.
Sometimes I find second chance romances just too heart wrenching to read but other times they just hit the right sweet spot and that’s what The Day He Came Back did for me.
Penelope Ward has once again reminded me why I love her work so much. The Day He Came Back is wonderfully written and heartbreakingly beautiful. The characters were well developed and the plot well thought out. I loved everything about it! Get ready to meet your next book boyfriend because Gavin will knock you off your feet!
Gavin and Raven come from two different worlds and Ward does a stellar job of setting the scene where the haves and the have-nots exist in their own worlds and never shall the two mix. But that doesn’t matter to our hero and heroine who find ways to be together when they shouldn’t be. I loved Gavin—he was completely unexpected! A down-to-earth, loyal, loving man who follows his heart when it matters the most. Raven is a fun, hard-working woman who faces many challenges with as much strength as she can. When the unexpected happens, Gavin and Raven are ripped apart and forced to go on without one another. Ward starts the story in the present tense then jumps back ten years to give the couple’s history then forwards back ten years to pick up where the story started. This is done perfectly and I really enjoyed getting the full backstory along with the present story.
The Day He Came Back is emotional and will leave you with a lump in your throat. My heart broke for both Gavin and Raven but in the end, these two find their happily ever after in the perfect way. Their story is a bumpy one but it’s a beautiful one. 5 stars
The Day He Came Back by Penelope Ward is yet another emotionally charged, sexy romance from a must-read author. A second chance romance that is about so much more than JUST second chances. Told in dual points of view between Raven and Gavin, this story had me hooked from the first page.
Raven may come from the other side of the bridge in Palm Beach but she knows her worth. Gavin is tired of the haughty expectations of his mother and wants nothing more than to be happy, and Raven makes him happy. But when social standing becomes more important than her own sons happiness the relationship that was just getting started between Raven and Gavin implodes.
Fast forward ten years and it is sheer cosmic fate that has Raven and Gavin back in the same house at the same time. Will they ever be able to get past their history and work out their differences or is this meeting just a chance to properly say goodbye.
Emotional, heart-breaking, romantic, sexy, powerful – as always – Loved it! Enjoy!
If second chance romances are your thing, this is the perfect book for you! I really loved these two characters right from the start! Gavin and Raven had a spark from the minute they met. There is just an ease to their relationship. The way Gavin treats Raven is how all men should treat a woman. Raven is so strong and selfless. Outside influences tear this amazing couple apart. However, when two people love have something real, they will find a way back to each other.
PENELOPE WARD WROTE IT…WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO KNOW???
I love this new second-chance romance from Penelope Ward….
Ten years ago, “Rich boy”, Gavin Masterson and Raven, (who was considered “the help”), fell in love, and that was a BIG problem for his mother….one she quickly took care of….and Gavin left for law school with no idea what happened…
Now, Raven is a home care nurse for Gavin’s father, and he’s come back….engaged….and looking for answers to his questions and closure….but….”You can’t always get what you want…but if you try sometimes, you just might find…you get what you need”…(Mick Jagger)
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! And I love these characters….So much chemistry!! I laughed, I cried, and everything in between….It’s classic Penelope Ward….and that’s always a good thing…..
Oh my, does Penelope know how to write an amazing story. The Day He Came Back completely blew me away. I devoured the entire thing in one day. There was no was I was going to adult, with this baby in my hands. I had not know what would happen next. I laughed, I cried, I felt each and every emotion in between. But most of all I fell in love with Gavin and Raven.
This is a second chance romance at its best. I absolutely loved this book and I never wanted it to end. I loved the dynamic, combustible chemistry and stubbornness each character displayed. I loved the world Penelope created and I’d love to see a certain brother’s story as well.
PS – Sebastian York and Andi Arndt do a phenonemal job bringing Penelope’s words to life! The audio was amazing!
From the moment I saw the gorgeous cover of The Day He Came Back and read the intriguing blurb, I knew I needed to read this book badly! After all, it’s a second chance romance which is a favorite trope of mine plus its written by one of my most favorite authors ever Penelope Ward. This incredibly talented lady won my reader heart over a long time ago and is keeping it ever since. Only her and a couple of other authors are able to leave such a strong impact on me with their stories. I’ve once written in a review that her words are written all over my heart. And that’s still the truth!
I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that I already knew after reading the prolouge that this book has the potential to be a top favorite. It grabed me right from the start and demanded all of my attention. I simply couldn’t put it down. I was so mesmerized by Penelope’s words and the places and characters she created.
Raven is a beautiful, smart and compassionate young woman at the age of twenty who lives together with her mother. They both work as house keepers at the Masterson mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. This is where she meets him: Gavin, the guy of her dreams and the older son of her uppity employer Ruth.
Gavin is a guy with bad boy looks but is underneath it all anything but one. He’s strong willed and loves with everything he has. Gavin knew his mother would disown him if she found out about him and Raven. But he couldn’t stay away from her and kept persuing her until she gave in. How could she not when he loved her harder than anybody ever had and never treated her as his mother did—like hired help.
But sometimes things are too good to be true and what starts as the best summer of their both lives soon turns into their biggest heart break.
10 years pass. Raven was never supposed to see Gavin again, but that didn’t stop her from thinking about him every day. When a twist of fate had her working again in the very place their love affair started, she soon realizes that she wasn’t prepared for the day he came back…
Gosh how much I loved Raven and Gavin. These two were made for each other. Their chemistry and deep connection was palpable on every page! I rooted for them from the start and was heartbroken to see them suffer. After everything that happend, they both deserved to be happy like nobody else.
“I will give you as much time as you need. But I want you. Only you. Not tomorrow – right fucking now, Raven. I don’t need time. I need you back.”
I strongly encourage everyone to read this book! It’s the perfect summer read with a great, entertaining story line and absolutely loveable characters. Well, except Gavin’s mother Ruth. That woman was evil personified!
Thank you dear Penelope for giving us another beautifully written must-read. Book like this one make my heart and soul soar. I’m giving this gem 5 well deserved stars and putting it on my most favorite reads shelf!
If you’re looking for a read that’s going to grab you from the beginning and have you devouring every page after this is book for you. I couldn’t put this book down, it had me so enamoured with the story and the characters. This story was about young love, hard decisions, regrets, second chances and a love that conquers all. Such an amazing, beautiful heartbreaking love story that will leave you craving more!
Love Penelope Ward’s books.
Gavin and Ravin’s second chance romance is just amazing to read. I loved it.
At this point, it is a known fact that I am a fan of second chances romance and Penelope Ward it’s the perfect one who can give us a story that will melt your heart forever. Raven and Gavin story was perfect, their love was solid and transcendent.
Raven and Gavin met when they were young, she worked for her mom but he didn’t care about that, she stole his heart since day one and their connection was undeniable. Unfortunately this wasn’t their moment and they were pulled apart and left their hearts in pieces.
Ten years has passed and Raven finds herself coming back to work at Gavin’s house and LIFE brought back the one that got away.
Now they will have to deal with all the consequences, to face the truth and the most important to heal their souls. Despite they were young when they fell in love, they didn’t realize that all their feelings still remain, Gavin will find out that even he moved on, his feelings are intact and he can’t deny what both are feeling. Raven haven’t forget him, he’s the man she ever love and she’s hoping it’s not too late, now that he’s back.
Once again, the author gave us a lovable story with amazing characters, full of emotions and angst with a happy ending.